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Household Safety Checklist

To protect you and your family, do a thorough safety check of every room in your home on a regular basis. You can prevent unintentional accidents, injuries, and nontraumatic emergencies and your family will be healthier and safer when you practice a little prevention.

Print this checklist so it can be used for the inspection of your home. Make extra copies for later use.

Adult's bedroom:

___ Don't leave medicines, toiletries, or other household products in drawers or on night stands. Keep controlled substances, such as narcotics and sedatives, in locked containers.

___ Make certain knives, scissors, and other sharp utensils are out of reach.

___ Store dishwasher detergent and other cleaning supplies in their original containers and out of reach.

___ When children are present, install safety latches on cabinets and drawers within a child's reach.

___ Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and stoves.

___ Always turn pot handles inward when cooking on the stove. Use back burners whenever possible.

___ Keep the toaster out of the reach of toddlers.

___ Make certain appliance cords are not dangling, so they can't be pulled from a counter.

___ Unplug appliance extension cords when not in use.

___ When children are present, use plug protectors for all unused wall outlets.

___ If a child is in a highchair, make sure it is sturdy and has a seat belt with a strap between the legs.

___ Keep a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen.

Living room:

___ Keep houseplants out of reach of children and pets. A number of plants are poisonous.

___ Make certain TV sets and other heavy items are secure so they can't be tipped over.

___ Remove unnecessary extension cords.

___ Put plug protectors in any unused electrical outlets when children are present.

___ Move tables and other objects with sharp edges away from the center of a room, especially if there are toddlers or disabled persons in the home.

___ Place protective material on sharp furniture edges.

___ Keep drapery and blind cords out of reach of children and disabled persons.

___ Secure area rugs to prevent falls and slips.

Outdoors:

___ Keep stairs and walkways clear of snow, wet leaves, or other debris.

___ Repair cracks or chips in cement sidewalks and stairs.

___ Make certain railings, gates, and fences are secure and in good repair.

___ Keep garbage cans covered.

___ There should be a fence with a locked gate between the house and the backyard swimming pool.

___ Garden tools and lawn equipment should be securely stored.

___ Play equipment, such as swing sets and garden furniture, should be properly anchored and assembled. Check regularly for rust, splintered wood, or cracks.

Miscellaneous:

___ If you have a fireplace, wood burning stove, or other heat source, place barriers around it to prevent accidental burns.

___ Inspect and clean chimneys and stovepipes regularly.

___ Make certain hazardous items, such as bug sprays, cleaners, laundry detergent packets, e-cigarettes, auto care products, and weed killers, are secured and stored in their original containers in the garage, utility room, or basement.

___ The first action when a person has ingested a toxic substance is to call the local poison control center at the universal telephone number in the U.S.: 800-222-1222.

___ Make certain plastic bags, broken pieces of toys, buttons, screws, and other choking or suffocation hazards are stored out of reach of children.